IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 29, 2007
CONTACT: Gordon Ovenshine:
724-738-4854

gordon.ovenshine@sru.edu

Financial planning team readies for national competition

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – Three Slippery Rock University finance majors are heading to Minneapolis after leveraging a financial plan they wrote into a spot in the finals of a national competition. The 2006 SRU team captured third place.

            Jeff Geibel of Prospect, Troy Sharbaugh of Altoona and Craig Stokan of Hollidaysburg are one of eight teams nationally to qualify for the April 18-21 Ameriprise Financial Planning Invitation competition.

            The trio constructed a financial plan for a fictitious couple during the first phase of the competition. The first phase was open to all schools offering a financial planning program. Ameriprise judges picked the eight finalists. The seven others are Texas Tech, Virginia Tech, Wright State, Appalachian State, Fort Hayes State, Kansas State and Minnesota State-Mankato.

            In Minneapolis, the teams will do case presentations and participate in the “How Do You Know Challenge?” This is a Jeopardy-like competition about financial planning topics. At the finals, the team will receive additional data which requires them to alter their original financial plan for submission to the judges.

            Judges include members of the Certified Planned Board of Standards and the Financial Planning Association as well as active financial advisers and leaders from Ameriprise.

            John Misner, SRU professor of finance, is the team’s adviser. “This will be a great experience for the students, and I am confident their performance will be outstanding,” he said.

Slippery Rock University is Pennsylvania’s premier public residential university. Slippery Rock University provides students with a comprehensive learning experience that intentionally combines academic instruction with enhanced educational and learning opportunities that make a positive difference in their lives.